Planned to take the Kachess Lake Trail north to Mineral Creek but was not able to find a safe route across Box Canyon Creek. If an old bridge fell as reports indicate, it's long since washed away. Checking the map, the lake trail may also have been dangerously close to the lake/shore given the snow conditions.
Returned to the (groomed) road and headed for NF4930. There was a single ski track but I had to make my own trail to avoid twisting ankles. I turned around before the Rachel Lake parking lot, but there were enough views of the surrounding ridges and river and I found a good spot to stop and cook breakfast.
No others hiked this route; most may have gone up the groomed road or other trails ascending to the groomed road. One group was returning to the parking lot just in front of me at the very end, but it looked like they had only been out playing in the snow briefly.
11.8mi 560m ascent, max 60m/km.
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